Trade Unions: Internet

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will amend the text on www.direct.gov.uk in the sections entitled Introduction to Trade Unions and Your Right to Join (or Not to Join) a Trade Union to include information on employees' rights to opt out of the trades union political levy.

Patrick McFadden: I have been asked to reply.
	Direct.gov is intended to provide outline guidance for citizens on a wide variety of topics. More detailed guidance on trade unions, including information on employee's rights to opt-out of the trade union political levy, is given on the BERR website. It is intended that material covering employment on the BERR website, including on trade unions, will be converged onto direct.gov and businesslink.gov by April 2009. The guidance on the trade union political levy will be as part of this process.